How to Repair a Broken Underground Water Line
- Locate the spot. This task is easy if you have "Old Faithful" exploding in your front yard. ...
- Turn off the main water shut off once you find the leak. If you're in the city you need someone from the city waterworks to do this.
- Dig a trench along the area that shows signs of water leaking. Go down deep enough until you uncover the pipe.
- Check the line for wear, besides the area of the leak. Frequently roots can cause damage to pipelines in one spot but do no harm in others.
- Cut out the spot that leaks; make it at least 6 inches on each side of the leak. Get rigid copper pipe for the section.
- Sand the inside of 2 slip couplings that fit the pipe with a specially made wire brush for this procedure.
- Heat the coupling in the center from underneath with a propane torch and as you do put a piece of lead-free solder wire from the spool, on top ...
How to repair an underground water line?
Materials
- Replacement water line service pipe (usually 1-inch diameter)
- Twine or string
- Wood stakes
How to locate underground water lines?
Lines are marked with the following color coded paint:
- Red: Electric lines
- Yellow: Gas lines
- Orange: Cable TV lines
- Blue: Water lines
- Green: Sewage lines
What are the signs of a broken water pipe?
- Some areas of your flooring are higher than others, making a dome shape
- There are cracks in your wall that lead upward from the floor
- You notice cracks in either concrete or tile flooring
- Your timber boards are either warped or they’re squeaking
How to fix a broken underground PVC pipe?
Things You'll Need
- Shovel & trowel
- Pipe
- 2 straight connectors
- hacksaw or pipe cutter
- for PVC, glue and primer
- for metal, a threader
- Rags
- 2 Hours
How do you repair underground water pipes?
InstructionsLocate the Leak. Once you know the general area of the leak, try to pinpoint its precise location. ... Determine Ownership of the Leaking Pipe. ... Turn Off the Water. ... Dig the Trench. ... Bail Water From the Trench. ... Expose the Damaged Pipe. ... Repair the Water Line. ... Test the Repair.More items...•
How do you fix a broken water pipe outside?
2:425:07How to Repair a Burst Water Pipe - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clip1 you can use a clamp and sleeve repair kit to temporarily fix a leaking copper pipe. This kit isMore1 you can use a clamp and sleeve repair kit to temporarily fix a leaking copper pipe. This kit is easily available in most local hardware stores.
How long does it take to fix a broken water pipe underground?
On average, the main water line repair will take between four and eight hours.
How do you fix a broken underground PVC pipe?
4:0010:44EASILY Repairing Broken PVC Pipes(Least Amount Of Digging)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipClear a little bit of soil or sand out of the way. The next thing you're going to do is take aMoreClear a little bit of soil or sand out of the way. The next thing you're going to do is take a coupling glue it onto the pipe that you cut over here push it all the way down until it meets the stop.
How do you tell if a water pipe is broken underground?
If you notice the following signs, you might have an underground water leak in your home:Noticeable drop in water pressure when using plumbing appliances.Hissing or splashing noises.Dirty or rusty water (although this could be due to another problem)An increase of mold or water-loving insects in your home.More items...•
How do you find a leak in an underground water pipe?
Look at your water meter for the leak indicator, which is often a small red, white, or blue triangle. The indicator spins when the house is using water. Because you shut off all water to the home, the triangle should be still. If it's spinning, you have a leak underground.
What happens if I hit a water line while digging?
Even striking a single line while you dig can cause serious injury, fines, high repair costs, and outages. So, even if you're digging only a few inches underground, we highly recommend you have your utilities marked to avoid the risk of striking an underground utility.
What kind of pipe do you use for buried water lines?
HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) pipes are a considered the best choice for underground water lines. What makes this type of piping so great? HDPE pipes are non-toxic, tasteless, and considered a green building material. The pipes are designed to be high crack- and corrosion-resistant.
How much does it cost to fix a cut water line?
Main Water Line Repair Cost Repairing your home's main water service line costs $934 on average. You'll typically spend between $337 and $1,533. You'll typically pay $70 to $120 per hour plus materials for most water line repairs. Materials include new sections of pipe, valves and bushings.
How do you fix a broken pipe under a slab?
1:155:12How to Repair a Sewer Pipe Under a Concrete Slab | This Old HouseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDown the cut ahead at the end of the drain snake will scrape the inside of the pipe. And remove theMoreDown the cut ahead at the end of the drain snake will scrape the inside of the pipe. And remove the last of those tree roots to leave a nice clean pipe.
How do you fix an underground copper water pipe?
3:385:58How To Repair An Underground Copper Pipe Leak In Your Front YardYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd deeper it you want a very very clean surface in there it creates a much better flow. And it's upMoreAnd deeper it you want a very very clean surface in there it creates a much better flow. And it's up to code so we're gonna go ahead and take that next step in the soldering. Process.
Steps to Repair A Broken, Underground Pipe
The plumbers presented two strategies for fixing the leak. One approach would be to replace the entire length of copper pipe between my house and t...
Step 1: Have All Underground Utilities Marked
Upon closer inspection of my yard, the general location of the leak was pretty obvious because of the mud, but before work could start, the plumber...
Step 2: Turn Off Water at The Main on The Street
First, they needed to turn off the water supply at the meter found at the sidewalk. This picture shows the meter, which has been completely submerg...
Step 3: Hand Dig Down to The Leak Location
Unfortunately, power, water and communications all enter my house at about the same point (right around the leak), which meant that they needed to...
Step 4: Pinpoint The Location of The Leak
The plumbers would turn on the water supply for brief moments to help determine the location of the leak.Eventually, they found the water line with...
Step 5: Cut Away and Remove The Old Pipe, Install The New Pipe
This close to the house, they determined it would be best to replace an 8′ section going all the way inside. They cut the pipe just before the PVC...
Step 6: Make Connections With The Existing Pipe
Step 6a: Outdoor JointsA solder joint isn’t appropriate for a buried line, so instead they used a pack-joint coupling to connect the new pipe to th...
Step 7: Seal Up The Pipe Entrance Points Into The House to Prevent Leaks
Here’s a closeup showing where the pipe enters my house. You can see the plumbers placed a new PVC sleeve that extends a few inches beyond the foun...
Step 8: Check and Confirm That The Pipes Are Leak-Free
The crew re-tested the line and confirmed that the pipes were leak-free.Of course, they repaired the front lawn, and I’ll be reseeding the area in...
What to do if your underground water line is galvanized?
If your old pipe is galvanized use a copper to metal fitting to connect the two. Always wear safety glasses. If the underground water line looks too worn, replace the entire line or the same problem will probably occur again. How to Repair a Broken Underground Water Line.
How to fix a leak in a pipe?
Cut out the spot that leaks; make it at least 6 inches on each side of the leak. Get rigid copper pipe for the section. If you have to purchase the pipe in longer lengths, such as 5-foot lengths, you may as well use it all. Cut the exact measurement within 1/16 to 1/8 inch shorter. You need a little wiggle room.
How to find a septic tank in dry weather?
In dry weather you can always locate 2 things--the first is the septic tank and the second is a broken underground waterline. Look where the grass is greener. In wet and stormy weather, check the ground for spots with puddles or softer soil.
Can you repair a water pipe that is leaking?
If you suspect that your water pipes are leaking because your water bill has gone through the roof, there's a damp or muddy spot on the lawn and the rest of the yard is bone dry or you actually can see water spraying up through the ground, you can take several steps to repair the damage. It isn't incredibly easy to repair a broken underground water ...
How deep are water lines?
Pro-Tip: Communication lines like phone and cable service are usually found within 24″ of the surface. Water supply lines are typically buried 36-42″ deep, or deeper if you live in an extremely cold climate.
How long does copper water pipe last?
Pro-Tip: Copper water pipe has an expected lifespan of 50-60 years.
What material was used for water piping in the 80s?
Pro-Tip: While not the case in this home, in the late 80s builders frequently used a material called polybutylene for water piping. This material was once thought of as “the pipe of the future” because it was flexible, easy to work with, and cheap.
Can you solder a buried line?
A solder joint isn’t appropriate for a buried line , so instead they used a pack-joint coupling to connect the new pipe to the existing supply line in the ground outside. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of this step, but you can Google for pack-joint coupling and find a good amount of information on it.
Can you solder a pipe when it's full of water?
Unfortunately, it’s impossible solder a pipe when it’s full of water. To address this, they cut the pipe in the middle, drained the water, re-soldered the elbow and then used a SharkBite (which doesn’t require soldering) to repair the cut. In Maryland, SharkBite fittings are fully code-compliant for indoor use.
What is a pool of water on the surface of the ground?
Pools of water on the surface of the ground/unusual wet areas in landscaped areas. A significant drop in water pressure or flow volume. Cracking of paved areas. Dirty or rusty water through your faucets. Unusually soft, damp, or moldy areas surrounded by dry areas.
Can you repair a water pipe without digging?
Yes, it’s possible. Underground water pipe repair without digging can be done with trenchless technology. That means there’s no need to tear up your flooring or trench your yard and landscaping! Let us tell you more about underground water pipe repair without digging…. Underground water pipe repair without digging is possible with trenchless ...
